The document discusses the changing use of energy sources in the UK from the 1960s to the present, highlighting the political, physical, and economic factors affecting each source. It examines the decline of coal and the rise of oil, natural gas, hydroelectricity, and nuclear energy, noting their impacts on climate change and resource dependency. The UK aims to increase renewable energy sources to 10% in the near future, addressing both environmental concerns and energy sustainability.

1. FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHANGING USE OF ENERGY SOURCES IN THE UK POLITICAL PHYSICAL ECONOMIC

2. COAL CHANGING USE IN THE UK 1960’S TO PRESENT DAY LARGE FALL FROM OVER 50% TO AROUND 20% POLITICAL REDUCTION ADDRESSES GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE SEEN TO FOLLOW WORLD INITIATIVES AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROTOCOLS (eg KYOTO ) REDUCED STRENGTH OF MINERS UNION GIVES A GREATER SPREAD OF ENERGY SOURCES / ENERGY MIX PHYSICAL CARBON DIOXIDE EMMISSIONS CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE ENVIRONMENTALLY NEGATIVE; POLLUTION, SMOKE, NOISE ETC. ECONOMIC COAL IS DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO MINE EASIER SURFACE / OPEN CAST COAL IS EXHAUSTED COAL IS EXPENSIVE TO TRANSPORT

3. OIL / PETROLEUM CHANGING USE IN THE UK 1960’S TO PRESENT DAY A RISE TO 50% BY THE 70’s THEN SLIGHT FALL TO 40% POLITICAL REDUCTION ADDRESSES GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE SEEN TO FOLLOW WORLD INITIATIVES AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROTOCOLS (eg KYOTO ) REDUCES DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTS ESPECIALLY FROM POLITICALLY UNSTABLE PARTS OF THE WORLD LIKE THE MIDDLE EAST PHYSICAL NORTH SEA OIL FINDS IN THE 1970’s CARBON DIOXIDE EMMISSIONS, CLIMATE CHANGE PIPELINE LEAKS, ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ECONOMIC EASIER CHEAPER OIL AND LARGE FIELDS ARE EXHAUSTED REMAINING FIELDS ARE SMALLER / LESS ECONOMIC, MORE ISOLATED OIL IS EASIER AND CHEAPER TO TRANSPORT THAN COAL

4. NATURAL GAS CHANGING USE IN THE UK 1960’S TO PRESENT DAY LARGE RISE FROM NOTHING TO AROUND 40% POLITICAL NON RENEWABLE REOURCE RISE DOES NOT ADDRESS WORLD INITIATIVES AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROTOCOLS (eg KYOTO ) BUT SEEN AS CLEANER AND LESS POLLUTING THAN COAL OR OIL SOME DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN IMPORTS AND TRADE PHYSICAL NORTH SEA OIL AND GAS FINDS IN THE 1970’s CARBON DIOXIDE EMMISSIONS, CLIMATE CHANGE CLEANER THAN OIL OR COAL ECONOMIC STILL LARGE RESERVES AVAILABLE IN THE NORTH SEA FIELDS REMAINING FIELDS ARE SMALLER / LESS ECONOMIC, MORE ISOLATED. MAY REDUCE IN NEAR FUTURE EASY AND CHEAP TO TRANSPORT

5. HYDRO ELECTRIC CHANGING USE IN THE UK 1960’S TO PRESENT DAY REMAINS STEADY AT A VERY LOW % POLITICAL RENEWABLE / GREEN ENERGY SOURCE WOULD HELP UK FOLLOW WORLD INITIATIVE AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROTOCOLS OPPOSED BY NIMBY’s AND ENVIROMENTALISTS PROTECTING NATIONAL PARKS PHYSICAL VERY FEW GOOD SITES FOUND IN THE UK ENVIRONMENTALLY NEGATIVE; IMPACT ON NATIONAL PARKS AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS GRID OF TRANSMISSION LINES AFFECTS SCENIC VALUE OF AREAS ECONOMIC VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD GOOD SITES ARE ISOLATED FROM POPULATION CENTRES, EXPENSIVE TO TRANSPORT ELECTRICITY GOOD AS A SPINNING RESERVE. ABLE TO COPE WITH PEAK DEMAND AND RAPID CHANGES IN DEMAND

6. NUCLEAR CHANGING USE IN THE UK 1960’S TO PRESENT DAY RISE TO AROUND 15% THEN REMAINING STEADY POLITICAL INCREASE ADDRESSES GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE GIVES A GREATER SPREAD OF ENERGY SOURCES, REDUCES RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS HEALTH RISKS CAUSED POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY PRESENT POLICY SEES EXPANSION TO CONCENTRATE ON HOME ENERGY SUPPLIES PHYSICAL REDUCES CARBON DIOXIDE EMMISSIONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE LEAKS AND RADIACTIVE SCARES AND LINKS TO CANCERS eg CHERNOBYL DISASTER ECONOMIC WAS SEEN AS A VERY CHEAP SOURCE OF ENERGY IN THE 60’s USES VERY SMALL QUANTITIES OF RAW MATERIALS COST OF DE-COMMISSION IS HIGH HIGH COST OF STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE

7. THE UK INTENDS TO INCREASE THE USE OF RENEWABLE GREEN SOURCES TO 10% IN THE NEAR FUTURE HOW WILL THIS BE ACHIEVED?